Surrogate alcohol: what is it. Alcohol substitute

Poisoning with alcohol surrogates is very dangerous, as it is often accompanied by severe pathological damage to the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system. Such lesions often result in the death of the poisoned person.

Some poisonings are associated with the consumption of low-quality alcohol, but in most cases, poisoning with alcohol substitutes occurs in chronic alcoholics who use household chemicals, medicinal liquids and industrial alcohols.

Table of contents: Symptoms of poisoning with alcohol surrogates - Methyl alcohol - Ethylene glycol 3. What to do in case of poisoning with alcohol surrogates

Classification of alcohol surrogates

What are alcohol surrogates? These are liquids that contain alcohol and are used in everyday life and for technical needs. They are consumed for the purpose of intoxication when regular alcoholic drinks are not available. The group of alcohol surrogates also includes low-quality/counterfeit wine, cognac, vodka and other types of alcoholic beverages.

All alcohol substitutes are usually divided into two large groups:

True surrogates– liquids containing ethanol. This group includes medications (tincture of hawthorn or motherwort), colognes, lotions and technical ethyl alcohol. More dangerous substitutes in this group include household liquids - for example, antifreeze, brake fluid, polish, BF glue, wall cleaners, solvents. They contain sulfate or hydrolysis alcohol, methyl alcohol impurities, essential oils, denatured alcohol, dyes, aldehydes, acetone and other toxic substances.
Substances that do not contain ethyl alcohol, but cause intoxication. These substances have another name - false surrogates. These include butyl, formic, methyl, amyl and propyl alcohol, as well as dichloroethane and liquids for various purposes, sold in high concentrations. It is these “false surrogates” that are considered very poisonous; they pose a real danger to human life.

It is worth mentioning separately the danger counterfeit alcoholic drinks– they contain toxic compounds (for example, methyl alcohol), which in most cases lead to death.

Symptoms of poisoning with alcohol substitutes

The very first signs of the phenomenon in question are nausea and vomiting, dizziness and abdominal pain, severe headache and a feeling of faintness. But further symptoms are variable in nature and depend only on what exactly the person was poisoned with.

Methyl alcohol

The condition of the poisoned person will depend directly on how much of the drink was consumed. The lethal dose of methyl alcohol is 100 ml.

The first symptoms of poisoning with this particular alcohol substitute will be:

nausea and vomiting;
“flies” before the eyes;
dry and red skin.

During the first 24 hours after poisoning, the victim develops severe thirst, sharp abdominal pain, intense headache, double vision, and paroxysmal pain in the calf muscles.

With severe poisoning, the victim rapidly develops blindness, convulsions and tension in the neck muscles appear, the heart rhythm is disturbed and blood pressure drops. If the amount of surrogate consumed is close to a lethal dose, then the person goes into a coma and may stop breathing.

Note:if drinks with ethyl alcohol were consumed simultaneously with methyl alcohol, the clinical picture will be less pronounced, since ethyl alcohol is able to partially neutralize methanol.

The described symptoms of methyl alcohol poisoning are identical to the clinical picture of formic alcohol poisoning.

Ethylene glycol

The lethal dose of this substance is 150 ml. 6-8 hours after consuming the alcohol surrogate in question, the victim experiences a headache, severe thirst, too frequent diarrhea, almost uncontrollable vomiting, intense pain in the abdomen and lower back, the skin and mucous membranes become red with a bluish tint.

If severe ethylene glycol poisoning has occurred, that is, the victim has taken a dose close to a lethal dose, then he will experience dilated pupils and excessive excitement, a little later convulsions appear, and the patient loses consciousness. The terminal stage of ethylene glycol poisoning is characterized by heart failure, pulmonary edema, acute liver and kidney failure.

What to do if you are poisoned by alcohol substitutes

If there is a suspicion of poisoning with alcohol substitutes, then you need to immediately call an ambulance team. It should be remembered that no lotions or medicinal herbs will help - signs of poisoning increase rapidly, the victim can die at any minute.

If the poisoned person is conscious, then before the doctors arrive, he should be given a large amount of warm water to drink, and then vomited. In the case of an unconscious state, the victim must be laid on his side, the oral cavity must be cleared of vomit, the tongue should be brought out and secured to prevent the tongue from sinking and the patient’s death from suffocation.

Note:if it is known for sure that a person has been poisoned with methyl alcohol, then he can be given vodka or cognac to drink. Ethyl alcohol partially neutralizes methyl alcohol, which will alleviate the patient’s condition .

Poisoning with alcohol substitutes is a common occurrence. Unfortunately, recently cases of poisoning by surrogates have become more frequent not only among asocial individuals, but also among quite respectable citizens. The whole point is a huge number counterfeit alcohol that ends up in retail outlets. Doctors strongly recommend not to buy cheap alcohol and to use only trusted retail outlets. Well, those who like to drink a lot and cheaply should be reminded that poisoning with alcohol substitutes in almost every case leads to either disability or death.

Tsygankova Yana Aleksandrovna, medical observer, therapist of the highest qualification category

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Ethanol poisoning

Ethanol or ethyl alcohol is a colorless, volatile, flammable chemical substance. It is included in all alcoholic beverages and has the ability to quickly spread throughout the body and penetrate all biological membranes. In moderate doses, ethanol causes a feeling of intoxication, and the simultaneous intake of large amounts of alcohol can cause poisoning. For example, 0.5 liters of vodka drunk during the day will maintain a state of intoxication, and the same amount consumed at a time may well cause poisoning of the body. This is due to the inability of the liver to process large amounts of ethanol.

In an hour, the organ can completely break down only 8 g of pure alcohol into simpler substances, of which 100 grams of vodka with a strength of forty degrees contains about 32 grams.

First signs alcohol intoxication can be observed from all important systems of the body.

Gastrointestinal tract. Abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea.
Central nervous system. Increased excitement, euphoria, dilated pupils, hallucinations, impaired speech and coordination of movements, increased sweating.
The cardiovascular system. General weakness, redness of the face (in severe cases, pale skin), rapid pulse, low blood pressure.
Respiratory system. Shortness of breath, symptoms of acute respiratory failure.
Kidneys. Increased urination, in severe cases – its complete cessation.
Liver. Pain in the right hypochondrium, jaundice skin.

Strong alcohol poisoning can lead to coma and death.

Types of alcohol surrogates

Alcohol surrogates are usually called liquids that contain alcohol, but they are not drinks. The danger of surrogates is that even small doses can cause serious consequences, including death. Alcohol surrogates are classified into two groups depending on the ethanol content in them: containing ethanol and “false”, that is, without ethyl alcohol.

The first group includes:

denatured alcohol ( technical alcohol);
wood alcohols (hydrolysis, sulfite);
butyl alcohol;
colognes, medicinal tinctures;
varnish;
stain.

“False” surrogates are considered:

methyl alcohol;
ethylene glycol;
dichloroethane;
isopropanol;
BF glue.

Not only can these liquids not be drunk, they cannot even be tasted! If a person switches from vodka to alcohol substitutes, he needs urgent treatment for alcoholism. Proven medicines that can be ordered online will help with this.

Toxic effects of surrogates on the body

Even if ethanol is present in the surrogate, it becomes deadly in combination with industrial alcohols. They stay in the body much longer than ethanol and cause severe poisoning of all organs and systems.

Methanol, circulating throughout the body, is broken down into formic acid and formaldehyde, which cause severe damage to the central nervous system. Just 7 ml of this substance causes acute poisoning, which is indicated by the following signs: mild intoxication, fever, dilated pupils, the appearance of dots before the eyes and sudden blindness, impaired heart function, convulsions. Without medical care, the patient falls into a coma and dies. When consuming more than 50 grams of methanol death occurs immediately.

Ethylene glycol is found in antifreeze, windshield wipers, and brake fluid. Half a glass of “anti-freeze” provokes convulsions, confusion, and difficulty breathing. 100 ml of this liquid is considered a lethal dose. The polish consists of ethanol, technical alcohols, acetone and dyes. After drinking 50 ml of such a substance, a person will cause acute poisoning of the entire body, which leads to coma. A higher dose leads to irreversible consequences and death. Just 5 ml of dichloroethane leads to convulsions and loss of consciousness, and 20 ml leads to death.

Colognes, hawthorn tinctures and other medicinal and cosmetic products containing alcohol are also toxic substitutes for alcohol. Their constant ingestion leads to hypertension, kidney and liver failure.

First steps for intoxication with alcohol and surrogates

If a person is poisoned by alcoholic beverages or alcohol substitutes, the first action is to call an emergency team. Poisoning with alcohol substitutes, the symptoms of which may not be expressed in the first few hours, is extremely dangerous. After all, while the relatives of an alcoholic or a person who accidentally drank technical alcohol are inactive, severe intoxication of the body occurs. While the ambulance is traveling, the victim of alcohol poisoning needs to be given first aid.

Maintain a clear airway if the person is unconscious:
turn the patient on his side;
pump out vomit and saliva using a bulb;
secure your tongue to prevent suffocation.
Bring to consciousness with ammonia.
Flush the stomach by inducing vomiting:
three glasses of warm water with salt (1 tsp per glass);
vomiting agent.
Use adsorbents:
4 tablets of activated carbon for every 10 kg of body weight.
Provide warmth (wrap in a blanket).
If poisoning with methanol or ethylene glycol occurs, give vodka or another natural alcoholic drink to drink so that the surrogates do not break down into toxic substances.
If the heartbeat stops or there is no breathing, perform an indirect cardiac massage with artificial respiration. Two breaths into the victim’s mouth are accompanied by 10-30 pressures on the chest until doctors arrive or signs of life appear.

Gastric lavage and taking adsorbents are effective only in the first two hours after poisoning. Therefore, first aid should be started immediately, without waiting for serious symptoms of intoxication to appear.

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Types of surrogates

Surrogate alcohol is considered to be an alcohol-containing drink that contains foreign impurities or contains other monohydric and polyhydric alcohols (not only ethyl). Accordingly, alcohol surrogates are divided into 2 main groups:

true;
false.

The former contain ethyl alcohol and impurities that are extremely harmful to the body, which give the main toxic effect. Most often, poisoning with alcohol surrogates of the first group is observed after consuming moonshine, polish, denatured alcohol, and even alcohol-based wood stain.

The second group contains not ethanol, but other alcohols. These drinks cause severe intoxication many times faster, but also have a more destructive effect on the body. The breakdown of such alcohols produces metabolites that are extremely toxic. This group of drinks includes brake fluid and antifreeze. Drinking such substances is typical for people at the stage of alcoholic personality degradation.

Poisoning with alcohol substitutes is most often observed in people who suffer from chronic alcoholism. Dependence on alcohol is at the stage when a person becomes indifferent to the quality of the drink and the dangers of drinking alcohol to health.

Symptoms of poisoning

Since there are 2 groups of surrogates, it is important to understand that the symptoms will vary greatly depending on the cause of the poisoning. Even if it is known which group the surrogate that provoked the poisoning belonged to (for example, it was a true surrogate), it is necessary to know what kind of impurity was contained in the drink in order to competently provide assistance to the victim.

Symptoms of poisoning by true surrogates

The signs of poisoning with surrogates are similar to the symptoms that indicate that the patient has consumed ethyl alcohol, but in the first case the ailment is more pronounced and is observed after a shorter period of time. The consequences of poisoning from low-quality alcoholic beverages depend on the amount of alcohol ingested.

In case of poisoning true surrogates intoxication occurs due to toxic impurities. For example, after drinking hydrolytic alcohol, all the same symptoms appear as after drinking high-quality alcohol:

nausea;
vomit;
weakness;
drowsiness;
sudden changes in blood pressure.

However, the speed at which the first signs appear is much higher. Intoxication is often reported when consumed medicines for the heart, alcohol-based. In this case, the following will be added to the symptoms of poisoning:

bradycardia;
decompensated dysfunction of the myocardium.

Poisoning with surrogate alcohol is often caused by the use of alcohol-containing products for external use. In this case, the patient will experience a sharp blue discoloration of the lips and mucous membranes, and the blood will become more brown. This is due to the presence of anesthesin in the composition, which tends to prevent oxygen from entering tissues and internal organs.

Drinking alcohol in the form of cosmetics leads to disruption of the functioning of the digestive tract along with signs of simple alcohol poisoning. This is due to the presence of butyl and methyl alcohols, which can lead to acute gastritis and even provoke the development of hepatitis. When using stain, a change in the color of the mucous membranes is observed, but this is due to the presence of dyes in the composition.

The main harm of moonshine lies in the danger fusel oils, which have an extremely destructive effect on the liver and lead to acute liver failure, and in the most advanced cases, even cirrhosis. To provoke severe poisoning by surrogates of this group, you need to drink relatively small portion alcoholic liquid.

Symptoms of poisoning by false surrogates

The most common “substitute” for ethyl alcohol is methyl alcohol, which in itself does not pose any particular harm to the human body. The main danger comes from its breakdown products - formic acid and formaldehyde.

It is possible to avoid acute poisoning with surrogate alcohol if ethyl alcohol is present in the drink along with methyl alcohol. The thing is that ethanol is an “antidote” that prevents the transformation of methanol into substances harmful to the body. Therefore, people suffering from chronic alcoholism mix two types of alcohol, but such experiments are extremely dangerous for health.

A small dose of the surrogate causes a mild stage of intoxication, during which the person feels satisfactory, only the main symptoms appear alcohol intoxication. Poisoning with low-quality alcohol occurs at the end of this “hidden” period. If quantity alcohol taken a little more, signs of intoxication appear instantly: in just a few hours, death can occur if the person is not given proper assistance.

In cases of mild to moderate poisoning, the following are observed:

sharp deterioration of vision followed by its restoration;
dizziness;
nausea.

In the severe stage, very pronounced symptoms of acute alcohol poisoning are present. A person can fall into an alcoholic coma within 2 hours after the first symptoms appear:

drowsiness;
violation of self-control;
sudden changes in blood pressure;
strong thirst;
joint pain.

Another common substitute for ethyl alcohol is ethylene glycol, which is present in brake fluid. The danger comes from the breakdown products of this substance, the most toxic of which is oxalic acid, which causes kidney destruction. Main symptoms:

redness of the skin;
change in color of mucous membranes;
increase in heart rate;
hyperthermia;
disturbance of perception of the surrounding world;
psychomotor disorders;
convulsions.

Oxalic acid leads to acute heart failure, disrupts liver function and provokes acute renal failure, which is the most common cause of death in human poisoning with ethylene glycol.

Treatment

At the first signs of poisoning by surrogates, you must seek qualified help, as the ailment progresses at a very high speed. First aid should always be gastric lavage with warm water.

Further treatment measures directly depend on the cause of poisoning:

Methanol. For treatment, ethanol is used in small doses, which prevents the breakdown of methanol. Atropine and prednisolone are used to restore vision.
Ethylene glycol. A sodium bicarbonate solution is used. It is necessary to adjust the water-electrolyte balance and take diuretics to restore kidney function.
True surrogates. Here, treatment is prescribed depending on which organs and systems of the body are affected. It all depends on the amount of alcohol taken and its type.

Poisoning with alcohol and any of its substitutes can be extremely dangerous. Surrogate alcohol very often leads to death, and many people who have undergone treatment after poisoning with surrogates become disabled. It is important to protect people from drinking such alcohol.

Prevention

The most the best way prevention would be a complete cessation of alcohol consumption. But even without this, you can protect yourself from danger:

Pay attention to the price of alcoholic drinks. Too low a price is the first sign of low quality.
Buy alcoholic beverages only in trusted places - specialized stores or large supermarkets.
There is no sediment in good vodka. If bubbles appear when shaking the container, this indicates poor quality of the drink.
The bottle must have an excise stamp, where the date of bottling of the alcohol is indicated in legible numbers.

By paying attention to these small nuances, you can almost completely eliminate the possibility of poisoning. If intoxication does occur, you should immediately consult a doctor. Self-medication of severe alcohol poisoning can lead to disastrous consequences.

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ALCOHOL AND ITS SURROGATES. The lethal dose of ethanol is 4-10 g/kg and is largely determined by the degree of adaptation to it, individual differences and the state of the functions of the heart, liver, and adrenal glands.

Ethanol is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract (especially on an empty stomach). The maximum concentration in the blood is detected after 40-90 minutes when taken on an empty stomach and 90-180 minutes after eating fatty foods. 90% of it is metabolized in the liver with the participation of the enzymes alcohol dehydrogenase, catalase and oxidases. 10% is excreted unchanged by the lungs, skin, and kidneys. Toxigenic stage - 7-12 hours.

Clinical picture. After the well-known symptoms of intoxication, in accordance with the dose taken, a superficial or deep loss of consciousness occurs. Superficial coma is characterized by: floating movement of the eyeballs, play of the pupils (narrow, wide, anisocoria) and decreased photoreaction, injection of the sclera, lack of verbal contact, sneezing or awakening reaction (grimace on the face, movement of the head, legs, arms, attempt to rise) with irritation of the nasal mucosa with cotton wool soaked in ammonia. Smell of alcohol on the breath. Hypersalivation, hyperhidrosis, hiccups, retching, vomiting. The skin is cold to the touch, damp. Muscle tone is uniformly reduced, but hypertonicity may periodically develop (trismus of the masticatory muscles, myofibrillation). Moderate tachycardia. Breathing is not impaired. Swallowing is disorganized, but protective reflexes and reactions of spitting, coughing, and choking are preserved. Deep coma is characterized by muscle atony, central standing of the eyeballs, lack of pupillary response to light, corneal, swallowing and cough reflexes, acrocyanosis, hypotension, metabolic acidosis, hypoglycemia. Breathing is usually stridorous or Cheyne-Stokes type. Aspiration of vomit is possible.

True alcohol surrogates are inferior ethanol substitutes used as alcoholic beverages. These include: hydrolytic and technical (denatured alcohol) alcohol, colognes, lotions, moonshine, polish, BF glue, stain. Poisoning with true alcohol substitutes is characterized by a deeper and more protracted coma with respiratory and hemodynamic disturbances.

Complications of alcoholic coma: acute respiratory failure of the aspiration-obstructive type, apnea of central origin, long-term positional compression syndrome, acute cardiovascular failure, etc.

Long-term positional compression syndrome (positional tissue compression) develops as a result of prolonged compression of the muscles of the limbs and torso by the weight of one’s own body with the development of myoglobinuric nephrosis against the background of a prolonged exotoxic coma (usually due to carbon monoxide poisoning, sleeping pills, alcohol). A prerequisite for its development is that the patient remains in a coma in an uncomfortable position for at least 4 hours, often on a hard surface. In the pathogenesis, a significant role is played by under-oxidized products of ischemic tissues, the breakdown of myocytes, the release of myoglobin, potassium, histamine, hydrolases and other biological substances from them. active substances. SDPS clinically manifests itself by the end of 1-2 days. Local changes are characterized by a slow increase in edema of the limbs and torso injured by compression, reaching significant sizes and woody density, sharp pain in edematous tissues with its spread to healthy muscle areas against the background of loss of superficial and deep sensitivity, trophic skin disorders in the area of greatest compression (blue-purple color , bruises, hemorrhages, conflicts). After emerging from a coma, patients report general weakness, malaise, dry mouth, headache, nausea or even vomiting, pain and limited movement in the affected parts of the body, oliguria, and dark (red-brown, black) color of urine. Free myoglobin and an increase in plasma potassium content are detected in the blood. An ECG may show signs of hyperkalemia. Subsequently, a clinic of polyneuritis is observed, and with compression of large muscle masses - acute renal failure.

A common intoxication syndrome complicating chronic alcoholism is acute Gaye-Wernicke-Korsakov encephalopathy. Characterized by a violent onset: psychomotor agitation, impaired consciousness, tachypnea, nystagmus, eyelid ptosis, suppression of the pupillary response to light, decerebrate rigidity, a symptom of forced grasping, bilateral pathological Babinski reflexes.

Emergency care and treatment. 1. Correction of life-threatening respiratory and circulatory disorders, relief of seizures. 2. Atropine, 0.5 ml of 0.1% solution subcutaneously. 3. Prostate (in deep coma - after tracheal intubation), saline laxative. PG is performed if no more than 2-3 hours have passed since drinking alcohol. 4. Those suffering from chronic alcoholism are administered vitamin Bb 1-2 ml intravenously and 1 ml intramuscularly, then glucose, 60 ml of 40% solution, in order to avoid the development of Gaye's encephalopathy -Wernicke-Korsakov. The administration of glucose should always be preceded by the administration of vitamin B. 5. Sodium hypochloride, 0.06% solution - 500 ml intravenously over 45 minutes: For ongoing intractable lactic acidosis - 4% sodium bicarbonate solution under the control of CBS, for ketoacidosis - glucose with insulin. 6. Unithiol - 10 ml of 5% solution, sodium thiosulfate - 30-40 ml of 30% solution, vitamins B and B6 - 4 ml of 5% solution, ATP - 3-5 ml, prednisolone - 30 mg intravenously, nicotinic acid - 5 ml of 1% solution subcutaneously. 7. In the case of acute Gaye-Wernicke-Korsakov encephalopathy, it is necessary to inject 20-30 ml of a 5% solution of vitamin Bb intravenously. 8. Forced diuresis. Due to the fact that ethanol inhibits the production of antidiuretic hormone, the need to use diuretics rarely arises. 9. If the level of ethanol in the blood is extremely high (>7000 mg/l), it is urgent to perform HD or PD. 10. In cases of aspiration syndrome - glucocorticoids at a dose of 3-20 mg/kg every other day, based on prednisolone, protease inhibitors, antiplatelet agents, Metrogyl 100 ml intravenously every 8 hours, albumin, fresh frozen plasma, a combination of antibiotics taking into account the sensitivity of the flora to him, heparin under the control of clotting time, ultraviolet irradiation of blood, inhalation, therapeutic chest massage, fibrobronchoscopy, hemosorption. When ARF increases, patients should be ventilated with PDCV. 11. In cases of SDPS at the prehospital stage, it is necessary to perform pain relief with non-narcotic and narcotic analgesics, immobilize injured limbs, administer intravenously 10 ml of a 2.4% aminophylline solution, 2 ml of no-shpa and tavegil, 400 ml of a 4% sodium bicarbonate solution, 400 ml of rheopolyglucin, and for manifestations of hyperkalemia - 10 ml of 10% calcium gluconate solution. 12. For acute renal failure, treatment in accordance with the stages. At the initial stage, measures are taken aimed at stabilizing general and renal hemodynamics, improving blood rheology and peripheral circulation, eliminating metabolic acidosis, myoglobinuria, disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome, hyperkalemia, proteolysis, endogenous intoxication, stimulating diuresis with osmodiuretics or saluretics (Lasix - up to 25 mg /kg/day). Early use of hemodialysis is indicated, without waiting for azotemia and anuria, due to acidosis and hyperkalemia. In the oligoanuric stage, treatment should be aimed at preventing death from acidosis, hyperkalemia, generalization of infection, pulmonary and cerebral edema. Infusion therapy is carried out under the control of central venous pressure, hourly diuresis, blood pressure, taking into account all fluid losses. The main infusion media are concentrated glucose (20-10%) with insulin, rheopolyglucin, washed red blood cells or packed red blood cells (for anemia), sodium bicarbonate (for acidosis). A patient with anuria in the absence of fever, vomiting and diarrhea should be administered intravenously no more than 500 ml of fluid. In this case, preference is given to glucose and washed red blood cells. Alkalinization is performed by taking the calculated amount of baking soda through the mouth. It is necessary to administer antispasmodics (aminophylline, no-shpa, papaverine) every 3 hours, alternating; complamin and droperidol - every 8-12 hours, non-nephrotoxic antibiotics, taking into account the half-life and the need to reduce the dose in conditions of impaired concentration and excretory function of the kidneys, retabolil, methyluracil, disaggregants, clonidine and obzidan (for arterial hypertension), heparin, protease inhibitors, vitamins E, C, group B, cytochrome C. Osmodiuretics are not indicated and are dangerous. The dose of Lasix is reduced to 4-7 mg/kg/day. Enterosorption. The diet is carbohydrate-fat with restriction of table salt, liquid and proteins. In cases of hyperkalemia, calcium gluconate or calcium chloride is administered intravenously. If conservative therapy is ineffective, HD with HS, HD with ultrafiltration are used. In the stage of diuresis restoration, special attention is paid to the correction of water and electrolyte disturbances, hypoproteinemia, anemia, acidosis, immunity, and the fight against infection. The main thing is to prevent death from dehydration and dyselectrolythemia. In diet No. 7, 3 g of table salt is added, potassium-rich foods are added, and plenty of fluids are prescribed. Glucose with potassium preparations, hemodez, disol, trisol and other balanced crystalline solutions are infused intravenously. In the initial stage of restoring diuresis, the dose of Lasix is reduced to 1-2 mg/kg/day, potassium-sparing diuretics (veroshpiron, etc.), lespenefril are added, diuretics are canceled at the stage of true polyuria. HBOT is effective; sometimes there is a need for HD with HS. 13. To eliminate toxic encephalopathy, hypoxia protectors are used in an adequate dose (Cerebrolysin - 10-20 ml/day, piracetam - 30 ml/day 5% solution, Actovegin - 0.4-1 g/day injection or 2-4 g 10 % solution with glucose, instenon - 4 mg/day, Cavinton - 8-10 ml/day, etc. ), nimotop and other slow calcium channel blockers, vitamins, unithiol, sodium thiosulfate in usual doses, protease inhibitors (for example, contrical, 200-300 thousand units/day), ATP - 10 ml/day by intravenous titrated administration, craniocerebral hypothermia, normovolemia. Hyperperfusion should be avoided, especially with cardiac changes and renal dysfunction. In the case of severe intracranial hypertension, osmodiuretics, glycerin, spinal puncture with intralumbar injection of isotonic sodium chloride solution, and mechanical ventilation in the mode of moderate hyperventilation are used. 14. Patients with polyneuritis receive rehabilitation treatment in a neurological hospital at their place of residence.

After acute renal failure, clinical observation and treatment by a nephrologist are required for at least 2 years.

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Classification of alcohol surrogates

There are two groups of surrogates: true and false. True surrogates contain ethanol and various impurities. When drinking such drinks, poisoning occurs due to the toxic effects of impurities. False surrogates do not contain ethanol, but other alcohols that cause intoxication. Poisoning develops as a result of the action of toxic metabolites formed during the breakdown of alcohols.

Poisoning with alcohol substitutes is usually diagnosed in alcoholics who are ready to drink any alcohol-containing liquids without taking into account their quality and health hazards. The most common causes of poisoning by true surrogates are the intake of denatured alcohol, polish, alcohol stain for wood, medical supplies alcohol-based, alcohol-containing cosmetics, moonshine. Poisoning with alcohol substitutes that do not contain ethanol develops after ingestion of methanol, as well as brake fluid and ethylene glycol-based deicers.

Symptoms of poisoning with ethanol-based alcohol surrogates

Symptoms that occur after consuming true surrogates depend on the impurities included in the composition. alcohol-containing liquid. After taking hydrolytic alcohol, the symptoms are the same as after drinking too much of regular alcohol: nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, dry mouth. Hydrolytic alcohol is more toxic than ethyl alcohol, so signs of poisoning with alcohol surrogates are observed after drinking less alcohol.

In patients with severe alcoholism, poisoning with alcohol substitutes often occurs when taking alcohol-containing cardiac medications. Such drugs contain cardiac glycosides that provoke bradycardia. With systematic use or taking a large dose, acute heart failure may develop. Anesthesin is often added to external alcohol-containing products, which blocks the blood’s ability to deliver oxygen to organs and tissues. Poisoning with alcohol surrogates is manifested by symptoms of oxygen starvation. The mucous membranes become bluish, the blood takes on a brown tint.

Cosmetics contain, along with ethanol, butyl and methyl alcohols. After taking such drugs, symptoms of ordinary acute alcohol poisoning occur in combination with signs of gastrointestinal damage. Inflammation of the gastric mucosa (gastritis) and the development of hepatitis are possible. After consuming alcohol stain, as well as after taking external alcohol-containing preparations, poisoning with alcohol surrogates is manifested by cyanosis of the skin and mucous membranes, however, this symptom is not caused by oxygen starvation, but by the action of the dyes included in the stain. The blue color persists for a long time (sometimes several months). When taking moonshine, typical alcohol intoxication is observed, but moonshine has a more pronounced destructive effect on the liver due to high content fusel oils.

Symptoms of poisoning with alcohol surrogates based on other alcohols

The taste and smell of methyl alcohol are the same as ethyl alcohol. Death can occur after consuming just 100 ml. Individual sensitivity varies, so after consuming the same dose, one patient may experience more severe alcohol poisoning than another. The severity of poisoning also depends on whether the patient simultaneously took ethanol, which is an antidote to methanol - some alcoholics dilute methyl alcohol with ethyl alcohol to avoid poisoning.

However, such attempts to save money are associated with an immediate risk to life. Methanol itself is not toxic, but when it breaks down in the body, strong poisons formaldehyde and formic acid are formed. When consuming a large dose, signs of poisoning with alcohol surrogates appear almost instantly, and death occurs within a few hours. When taking a small dose, there is a latent period during which the patient feels satisfactory.

A mild form of poisoning with alcohol surrogates is manifested by nausea, repeated vomiting, headache, dizziness, epigastric pain, mild visual disturbances - flickering of spots, impaired clarity of perception (“seen as if through fog”). Symptoms persist for several days and then gradually disappear. In case of poisoning with moderate alcohol surrogates, the manifestations are similar, but all the symptoms are more pronounced. After 1-2 days the patient loses vision. Subsequently, vision is partially restored, but then deteriorates again. Such poisonings usually do not pose a threat to life, but can lead to visual impairment leading to disability.

In severe cases, pronounced typical symptoms of poisoning with alcohol substitutes, drowsiness and stupor, occur. After a few hours, increasing thirst, pain in the legs, dryness and cyanosis of the mucous membranes, rhythm disturbances, tachycardia and increased blood pressure appear. Subsequently, tachycardia gives way to bradycardia, and blood pressure drops. Confusion is observed, convulsions and psychomotor agitation are possible. In case of particularly severe poisoning with alcohol surrogates, the time interval between the appearance of the first symptoms and the occurrence of pronounced impairments in life is only 2-3 hours. The result is coma and death as a result of respiratory arrest and cardiac dysfunction.

Another common poisoning occurs when consuming brake fluid containing ethylene glycol. The lethal dose, as for methanol poisoning, is only 100 ml. The cause of poisoning is the formation of toxic intermediate products of the breakdown of ethylene glycol, in particular oxalic acid, which provokes acidosis and has a destructive effect on the kidneys as a result of the formation of sodium oxalate crystals.

At first, poisoning with alcohol surrogates resembles severe alcohol intoxication. After a few hours, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, severe thirst, tachycardia, shortness of breath and fever appear. The skin and mucous membranes are dry, there is redness of the skin and cyanosis of the mucous membranes. Possible psychomotor agitation. In severe poisoning with alcohol surrogates, convulsions, progressive disturbances of consciousness and acute heart failure are observed. After 2-3 days, renal failure develops and liver dysfunction occurs. Death occurs due to progression of renal failure.

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Types of surrogate alcohol that everyone needs to know about

Low-quality surrogate alcohol consists of liquid that is used for technical needs. But now such a surrogate is used to intoxicate primarily those people who are not available quality drink.

Vodka, wine, cognac and other drinks that are produced in violation of all technological norms and rules lead to acute poisoning of a person who simply cannot be brought back to normal in one day. This often requires medical intervention. Surrogates can be divided into the following groups:

Ethanol - and all drinks associated with this substance cause severe damage to the entire body. Some of the most dangerous liquids for humans include: antifreeze, glue, solvent, polish. More and more often, emergency ambulance services cannot help. These liquids are very toxic and have their purpose in everyday life, but are not intended for ingestion.
There is a group of drinks that has a name such as false surrogates. These include butyl, methyl, and amyl alcohols. Ethylene glycol. All these surrogates have an oily structure, do not have a distinct odor and have a slightly sweetish taste. This composition of alcohols naturally leads the body to become drunk, but leads to severe acute poisoning and death.

The main symptoms of poisoning with surrogate alcohol

If poisoning with alcohol surrogates occurs, and it goes differently for everyone, the main thing is to find out the amount of drink consumed and the composition of this surrogate. These can be alcohol compositions such as:

denatured alcohol
hydrolysis sulfite alcohol;
butyl, allylic alcohol;
polish – technical alcohol.

The first acute signs of intoxication are very similar to poisoning with simple vodka, but in significant quantities. Nausea progresses to vomiting, severe dizziness, dry mouth, and headache. Subsequent symptoms are indirectly related to the drink and dose of consumption. Alcohol poisoning has three symptoms:

Methyl alcohol poisoning

After taking methyl alcohol, symptoms begin to appear after half an hour. During this time, methyl spreads throughout the body, producing a weak narcotic effect. First of all, the retina of the eye is damaged and respiratory system. Euphoria passes after half an hour and damage to the kidneys and heart occurs. One hundred milligrams of methyl alcohol drunk is fatal.

If, after taking methyl alcohol, initial signs of poisoning occur, which have their own order, it is necessary to immediately provide first aid. There is dry skin, severe thirst, hyperemia, severe pain in muscle tissue, double vision, persistent headache, fainting, significant blurred vision, convulsions, coma, lack of breathing.

If the dose consumed was more than 100 ml, then all these symptoms begin to occur at lightning speed. Emergency first aid in this situation will not be able to help. A person's death occurs.

Symptoms of ethylene glycol poisoning

If a person has consumed 150 ml of a deadly liquid such as ethylene glycol, then after 8-9 hours the patient will begin to experience the following symptoms:

severe pain in the abdomen and lumbar region;
copious amounts of vomit;
stomach upset;
headache;
the mucous membrane and skin become bluish in color;
in case of poisoning, dilation of the pupils is observed;
convulsions;
loss of consciousness.

If emergency assistance was not called at this stage, the treatment may be delayed and the patient’s body may be subject to other undesirable consequences, such as the development of heart failure, pulmonary edema, and ultimately kidney and liver failure. Treating the consequences of such poisoning will be difficult and will require urgent hospitalization.

Moonshine poisoning

You can hear many myths about this drink, such as - this is the purest drink, prepared at home, it practically does not cause harm to the body. This opinion is very wrong. The content of fusel oils in moonshine poses a great danger to the body, since toxicity increases 1.5 times compared to ordinary ethanol. As a result, the following symptoms appear:

Mucous gastrointestinal tract begins to collapse.
Erosion appears on the mucous membranes.
Intoxication occurs instantly.
Severe nausea and vomiting occurs.
The next morning you feel a strong hangover.
Dehydration of the body.

If such a situation arises, then treatment should, as with all other poisonings with various alcohols, be carried out immediately.

Poisoning with drugs containing alcohol

Many people begin to experiment with their body and take medicinal alcohol-containing drugs that can destroy the liver, heart and stomach lining. According to statistics, more than 20,000 people die from these drugs every year. Everyone should know that these drugs are not intended for oral administration in large doses. All these tinctures are intended for specific purposes that help the body cope with many diseases: mint, ginseng, hawthorn, motherwort, propolis, valerian, Corvalol.

With regular use of these drugs, acute poisoning can occur. Treatment in this situation may no longer be needed as convulsions, cardiac arrest and death occur. With such poisoning and symptoms, emergency care will simply be ineffective.

First aid and treatment for alcohol poisoning

When the first symptoms of poisoning appear, treatment must be started as quickly as possible. First of all, if there are no means at hand that can rid the body of poisoning, it is necessary to call an emergency ambulance. Otherwise, intoxication can develop rapidly, which can lead the human body to irreversible consequences.

If the person is conscious, then before the doctors arrive it is necessary to begin treatment, namely:

The first and necessary thing to do is to drink about 3 liters of warm water and be sure to induce vomiting in order to empty the stomach of the mixture drunk, and thereby rinse the stomach. After the stomach is completely empty, you are allowed to drink 1 glass of hot, strong tea.
The patient needs to drink about ten tablets of activated carbon. Charcoal adsorbs alcohol and its breakdown products that remain in the intestines.
An aspirin tablet will help relieve headaches and muscle pain.

If it so happens that the patient loses consciousness, then first of all it is necessary to lay him on his side, try to clean the oral cavity of accumulated vomit as soon as possible, pull his tongue out oral cavity and fix it. Such assistance will help prevent asphyxia.

In case of intense poisoning with methyl alcohol, before the arrival of doctors, if consciousness is not lost, it is necessary to give the patient 150 ml of vodka to drink, but only high-quality products should be at hand. Ethyl alcohol, entering the stomach, reacts with methyl and thereby slows down decomposition. harmful substances. But in any situation, this method is acceptable until the doctors arrive. Under any circumstances, the patient must receive medical care in a hospital.

If there is complete confidence that the cause of poisoning was denatured alcohol, then it is immediately necessary to call an emergency ambulance and take the victim to the hospital. Any delay could cost the victim his life.

If a patient experiences symptoms of kidney or liver failure due to alcohol poisoning, then treatment occurs not only at the stage of removing toxins from the body. After first aid has been provided, it is necessary to carry out dialysis-filtration treatment of liver failure.

If you want to drink, then alcoholic drinks must be purchased in specialized stores with a good reputation. It’s best not to drink in order to avoid various poisonings.

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What are there

In fact, there are quite a lot of surrogates for alcoholic beverages; they are divided into two groups:

With ethanol. These are medicines, lotions and industrial alcohol. All products that people use in everyday life belong to this group. They may contain various poisons, which can cause very severe poisoning and lead to death.
No ethanol. These are false surrogates, but they still lead to a hazy state similar to intoxication. These are methyl, butyl, amyl alcohols, gasoline, dichlorvos.

Counterfeit alcohol also includes cologne, disinfectants, alcohol tinctures from pharmacies, and moonshine.

The latter is a rather toxic product that disrupts the functioning of the entire body due to its content harmful oils. This is a product that is a liquid similar to oil different color mostly light yellow, with an unpleasant odor. It is produced from alcohol during the fermentation of moonshine. This type of surrogate drink is made at home from different food products: sugar, rye flour, peas, wheat, even from potato peels. And any product contains these oils in large quantities.

The news that moonshine is one and a half times more toxic to the human body than wine alcohol has been proven by experts.

If drunkenness and drinking moonshine does not stop for a long time, then a person develops alcoholism. This results in both a hangover syndrome and physical dependence from alcohol, and aggression in a state of hangover.

A strong addiction to a surrogate also entails mental disorders and degradation; the drinker can no longer imagine his life without a glass of moonshine. The strength of attraction to this type of surrogate is much stronger than to other varieties of this drink.

Binges when drinking moonshine are much more common than with ordinary alcoholism. Also a constant companion of this disease is amnesia in a state of intoxication, aggression, deceit, indifferent attitude towards one’s family, decreased performance and attention.

Effect on the body

A fairly large assortment of surrogate alcohol products on store shelves leads to uncontrolled consumption by people with alcohol addiction.

It would seem that brake fluid is needed for cars, but an alcoholic uses it in his own way - internally. And, once in the body, it decomposes, forming very toxic breakdown products. The victim experiences a sharp excitement of the nervous system, then depression and sleepiness. If the dose of alcohol is very large, loss of consciousness may occur, convulsions may occur, breathing and heart function may be impaired. News of this type of poisoning is often hidden, and doctors classify it as poisoning from unknown alcoholic beverages. In this case, urgent medical attention is needed, since if left like this, acute renal failure will occur in a couple of days, which can lead to failure of this organ.

The effect of solvents on organs is even stronger. When taking just a teaspoon, a person experiences severe vomiting, weakness, and loss of consciousness. If the poisoned person is not urgently hospitalized and comprehensive treatment is not applied, the consequences can be very dire.

Methyl alcohol, so popular among alcoholics and people with low incomes and a great desire to drink, when taken orally, breaks down into formic acid and formaldehyde. These two components cause headaches and dizziness. If the poisoned person is not hospitalized, then within a day he may become completely blind.

In many countries, news about the tragic outcome of poisoning with alcohol surrogates is disseminated by the media so that the population monitors the quality of drinking and does not cross the threshold of what is permitted due to drunken recklessness.

After ingestion of acetone, a burn to the gastric mucosa and kidney damage occurs. The victim develops acute gastritis. The same thing happens when you ingest perfumes and cosmetics. BF glue leads to instant intoxication, and with a repeated dose leads to the onset of sleep.

In all cases of taking surrogate drinks, patients experience a serious condition, depression, and even suicide attempts are possible. All this suggests that the poisons contained in these products, when entering the body, destroy it, causing toxic poisoning and severe disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system.

Medicinal alcoholism is the second most common, after moonshine. A large assortment of alcohol tinctures is freely available and at a low price at any nearby pharmacy, giving alcoholics the opportunity to drink these medications without restrictions. This is a tincture of hawthorn, motherwort, propolis, and ginseng. All of them contain alcohol and must be used as directed strictly in doses prescribed by a doctor. However, news about poisoning with these tinctures suggests that there are no boundaries for alcoholics. In such patients, the liver, stomach, and heart are gradually destroyed. This condition, in which convulsions occur and loss of consciousness can lead to cardiac arrest and death of a person. Therefore, all patients require compulsory treatment in a hospital.

Help with poisoning

However, surrogate alcoholism greatly disrupts all body functions, and this leads to the fact that a person can withstand a large dose of a toxic substance and not feel immediate poisoning. And this, undoubtedly, leads to even greater complications.

Before the ambulance arrives, the victim should try to rinse his stomach. There are several proven methods for this. The first and easiest is to induce vomiting. After this, you are allowed to drink a glass of strong sweet tea. If a person has lost consciousness, only doctors in the hospital can wash him.

If a person is poisoned by methanol, then he needs to be given one hundred grams to drink quality vodka or cognac to kill the poisons of the destructive effects of methanol. After this, immediately call an ambulance, as this could cost a person’s life.

Most reliable way avoiding poisoning from surrogate alcoholic beverages means completely abstaining from alcohol. Products and household chemicals should be stored separately from each other, and the purchase of alcoholic beverages should only be made in reliable stores with a good reputation.

You need to watch the news about surrogate poisonings and draw appropriate conclusions. After all, human life is much more valuable than a drink.

Poisoning with alcohol surrogates is often much more dangerous than regular intoxication. Much less low-quality alcohol is needed for the first symptoms to appear. For example, a lethal dose of high-quality alcohol is 300 ml in terms of pure alcohol, while surrogate alcohol in an amount of 100 ml of pure alcohol can cause death.

Types of surrogates

true;
false.

Symptoms of poisoning

Symptoms of poisoning by true surrogates

In case of poisoning with true surrogates, intoxication occurs due to toxic impurities. For example, after drinking hydrolytic alcohol, all the same symptoms appear as after drinking high-quality alcohol:

nausea;
vomit;
weakness;
drowsiness;
sudden changes in blood pressure.

However, the speed at which the first signs appear is much higher. Intoxication is often reported when taking alcohol-based heart medications. In this case, the following will be added to the symptoms of poisoning:

bradycardia;
decompensated dysfunction of the myocardium.

Drinking alcohol in the form of cosmetics leads to disruption of the functioning of the digestive tract along with signs of simple alcohol poisoning. This is due to the presence of butyl and methyl alcohols in most cosmetics, which can lead to acute gastritis and even provoke the development of hepatitis. When using stain, a change in the color of the mucous membranes is observed, but this is due to the presence of dyes in the composition.

The main harm of moonshine lies in the danger of fusel oils, which have an extremely destructive effect on the liver and lead to acute liver failure, and in the most advanced cases, even cirrhosis. To provoke severe poisoning by surrogates of this group, you need to drink a relatively small portion of alcoholic liquid.

Symptoms of poisoning by false surrogates

A small dose of the surrogate causes a mild stage of intoxication, during which the person feels satisfactory and only the main signs of alcohol intoxication appear. Poisoning with low-quality alcohol occurs at the end of this “hidden” period. If the amount of alcohol consumed is slightly larger, signs of intoxication appear instantly: death can occur in just a few hours if the person is not given proper assistance.

In cases of mild to moderate poisoning, the following are observed:

sharp deterioration of vision followed by its restoration;
dizziness;
nausea.

In the severe stage, very pronounced symptoms of acute alcohol poisoning are present. A person can fall into an alcoholic coma within 2 hours after the first symptoms appear:

drowsiness;
violation of self-control;
sudden changes in blood pressure;
strong thirst;
joint pain.

redness of the skin;
change in color of mucous membranes;
increase in heart rate;
hyperthermia;
disturbance of perception of the surrounding world;
psychomotor disorders;
convulsions.

Oxalic acid leads to acute heart failure, disrupts liver function and provokes acute renal failure, which is the most common cause of death in human poisoning with ethylene glycol.

Treatment

At the first signs of poisoning by surrogates, you must seek qualified help, as the ailment progresses at a very high speed. First aid should always be gastric lavage with warm water.

Further treatment measures directly depend on the cause of poisoning:

Methanol. For treatment, ethanol is used in small doses, which prevents the breakdown of methanol. Atropine and prednisolone are used to restore vision.
Ethylene glycol. A sodium bicarbonate solution is used. It is necessary to adjust the water-electrolyte balance and take diuretics to restore kidney function.
True surrogates. Here, treatment is prescribed depending on which organs and systems of the body are affected. It all depends on the amount of alcohol taken and its type.

Prevention

The best way to prevent it is to completely stop drinking alcohol. But even without this, you can protect yourself from danger:

Pay attention to the price of alcoholic drinks. Too low a price is the first sign of low quality.
Buy alcoholic beverages only in trusted places - specialized stores or large supermarkets.
There is no sediment in good vodka. If bubbles appear when shaking the container, this indicates poor quality of the drink.
The bottle must have an excise stamp, where the date of bottling of the alcohol is indicated in legible numbers.

Article reading time: 2 minutes

Surrogate alcohol has long been a real disaster for our country. Doctors note an ever-increasing number of cases of severe poisoning by surrogate. Especially in extreme cases of alcohol addiction, when a person is not able to understand the consequences of his actions. Degradation leads to rash actions, including drinking various chemicals.

But poisoning with alcohol substitutes comes not only from one’s own stupidity. Sometimes in stores you can meet “mass murderers” hiding under completely harmless labels. People are also poisoned and die due to the use of low-quality booze produced in underground conditions.

Alcohol surrogates in most cases leads to death

What are alcohol surrogates

Alcohol surrogates are various liquids that contain ethyl alcohol, but these substances do not belong to drinks that can be consumed orally. Once in the human body, surrogates lead to the development of severe intoxication with very sad consequences.

According to Rosstat statistics, in total during the period January - October 2016, about 7,000 people died from drinking surrogate alcohol. Compared to 2015 data, this figure increased by 1,500 cases.

By the way, the presence of ethyl alcohol is not a prerequisite for a particular liquid to be considered a surrogate. Substances that contain ethanol include the following compounds:

stain;
varnish;
denatured alcohol;
colognes;
butyl alcohol;
wood alcohols.

Surrogate substances are much more dangerous and toxic than regular alcohol. For example, wood alcohols contain large quantities of methanol, denatured alcohol is full of aldehyde, and polish is famous for its huge content of entire groups of poisonous alcohols.

What are alcohol surrogates

The composition of the stain includes a variety of chemical dyes. These compounds, once in the body, cause blue discoloration (cyanosis) of the mucous tissue and skin. The group of surrogates that do not contain ethanol includes the following substances:

BF glue;
methanol;
dichloroethane;
isopropanol;
ethylene glycol.

Lethal doses

Surrogate alcohol is the most dangerous substance for humans. Even a small amount of toxic liquids, once inside the human body, can lead to death. The doses required to cause severe intoxication and death vary. They depend on the type of surrogate.

Methanol

Methanol poisoning

Once in the body, methanol breaks down into formaldehyde and formic acid. Both compounds are extremely poisonous and have a high degree of toxicity. They directly affect the central nervous system, destroying communication neurons and causing irreparable damage to the nervous system. Methanol poisoning results from:

For an acute degree of intoxication, accompanied by loss of vision and deep fainting, up to coma, 6-7 ml of the substance is sufficient.
50 g of the compound leads to instant death.

Ethylene glycol

This compound is used to produce antifreeze, which is essential for motorists. If you drink only 50 ml of blue liquid, a person will develop acute poisoning, accompanied by convulsions, respiratory depression and severe impairment of consciousness.

Ethylene glycol, once in the body, is broken down into two types of acid, both of which are highly toxic. This:

Glycolic.
Sorrel.

For death to occur, it is enough to consume only half a glass of a substance containing ethylene glycol. This equates to 100 ml.

Varnish

The polish is a deadly cocktail of groups of various alcohols, aniline dyes, acetone, ethanol and a number of other technical impurities. Just 50 ml is enough to develop severe poisoning with irreversible damage to all internal systems and organs. And 150 ml of this substance leads to instant death for the victim.

What does poisoning with surrogates lead to?

Acetone

Acetone is familiar to all fashionistas (it is included in some hair dyes and nail polish removers), as well as to those who like to make something out of wood. But for the human body it turns into a dangerous poison. Once inside the body, acetone provokes serious damage to the mucous membrane of the esophagus and stomach.

To get a strong degree of intoxication, you need to consume only 30 ml of liquid. An increase in the amount of acetone is fatal.

Isopropanol

Or isopropyl alcohol, which is an excellent solvent. Thanks to this, this substance has become widespread in various industrial sectors. He also became notorious in the role of a surrogate. When ingested in the body in a volume of only 0.5 ml per kg of weight, isopranol provokes the development of the following phenomena:

a sharp drop in pressure;
loss of consciousness and development of coma;
irreversible disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract.

A dose of 140-150 ml leads to death. More precisely, for death it is enough that the concentration of the toxic substance was within 2 ml for each kg of body weight.

Glue BF

You can find this universal household assistant in almost every home. The adhesive contains a mixture of chloroform, acetone and ethanol. The lethal dose depends on the concentration of these components in the glue ingredients (its composition depends on the brand of glue). But, as a rule, only about 50 ml of the product is enough to kill a person.

Alcohol poisoning differs from intoxication with surrogates

Dichloroethane

This surrogate is perhaps the most dangerous for the body. Just 5 ml of this effective glue is enough to kill a person. The toxic compound affects all internal systems and organs without exception, causing immediate loss of consciousness and severe convulsions.

Medical classification

Poisoning of the human body with breakdown products of surrogate alcohol has ICD code 10 T51 (“toxic effect of alcohol”). It is worth recalling that surrogate alcohol also includes alcoholic beverages produced in clandestine workshops, without following technology and adding to various poisonous families.

Poisoning with alcohol surrogate mixtures occupies a sad leading position in diagnosed alcohol intoxications. Moreover, about 95% of people die without waiting for doctors to arrive.

How to identify surrogate alcohol

You should know that underground producers of burnt surrogate alcohol often counterfeit drinks of expensive, branded brands. After all, in this case, scammers can earn more money with minimal production costs.

Consequences of drinking surrogate alcohol

To recognize fake alcohol, which can become a deadly decoration for the holiday table, you should pay attention to the following points:

Excise stamp.
Bottle label.
Cost of drink.

To make it easier to understand the intricacies of determining surrogate alcohol, use the proposed table. So:

What we are considering	Certificate of quality of alcoholic products
label	whole and even with bright and distinct inscriptions; it must indicate the alcohol strength, certification mark, bottling date, address and name of the manufacturer, license number;
cork	whole and hermetically sealed; if the cork is packaged in a plastic covering, the brand name of the product must be indicated on it; The plastic container is smooth and undamaged
cap	should not scroll easily; must fit very tightly and tightly to the neck of the bottles; the stamp on the bottling date is identical to the inscription on the label;
excise stamp	glued very neatly and evenly, has no traces of protruding glue; on expensive and high-quality alcohol, the excise stamp is glued along the neck and side of the cork, that is, when opening the bottle it does not tear or get damaged
price	Before you go shopping, it is recommended to check the average cost of this product on the Internet; the significantly low price (compared to the originals) should raise suspicions.

Why are surrogates so dangerous?

The surrogates contain a high concentration of highly toxic alcohols. The danger of death increases if ethanol is included in the components of this liquid (when interacting with industrial alcohols, this substance becomes extremely toxic and deadly to humans).

The reasons for the increased danger to humans from taking surrogates are related to the specifics of their effect on the human body.

Regular alcohol is broken down in the body into acetaldehyde, which is subsequently converted into water and acetic acid and is removed from the body. The human kidneys and liver are directly involved in the processes of cleansing the body of toxins, while the liver organ is forced to use up almost all of its reserves of carbohydrates.

According to statistics, the largest number of deaths occur due to poisoning by surrogates

Technical alcohols, which are inherently more toxic, take much longer to break down in the body than ethanol. At the same time, actively circulating through the bloodstream throughout all organs. Their withdrawal time can be 50-60 hours. During this time, operation internal organs is completely disrupted, which leads to death.

Symptoms of surrogate alcohol poisoning

Symptoms of surrogate intoxication are varied. It depends on the composition of the substance, additional components and the dose that the person managed to take.

Symptoms of poisoning with surrogates

It has been noted that when consuming liquids that contain ethanol, the consequences of poisoning will be milder compared to surrogates containing ethylene glycol and methanol.

Initial symptoms

The very first signs of poisoning with surrogate alcohol are expressed in the development of pronounced psychomotor agitation and increased salivation. The person also experiences a feeling of euphoria, sweating and redness of the skin. But soon other signs begin to join the initial symptoms:

dilated pupils;
dry mouth;
attention disorder;
lack of coordination;
increased urination;
paleness of the skin;
incoherence of speech functions.

Methanol poisoning

If the “poisoner” is a liquid that contains methanol, then the clinical symptoms of drinking alcohol and its surrogates are expressed acutely and most clearly. This connection is instantly absorbed into the bloodstream, penetrates the gastrointestinal tract and causes a fatal blow to the functioning of the kidneys, nerves and liver. Severe surrogate intoxication is indicated by the following signs:

loss of consciousness;
dilated pupils;
convulsive state;
nausea with profuse vomiting;
feeling of slight intoxication;
changes in cardiac activity;
dryness of mucous membranes and skin;
significant increase in temperature;
hypotension (significant decrease in blood pressure;
decline in visual functions, up to the development of complete blindness.

After 2-3 days, the victim’s muscles and joints begin to ache severely. The pain covers the entire body, affecting the back and abdominal area. The person falls into a comatose state with paralysis of the limbs.

Ethylene glycol intoxication

This toxic substance is instantly absorbed into the blood through the gastric mucosa. The main impact of the poison falls on the central nervous system, kidneys and liver. All signs of poisoning are rapidly increasing. Only during the first 10-2 hours the victim can feel relatively stable, feeling only intoxication. Then the following toxic signs are formed:

convulsions;
fainting;
tachycardia;
respiratory depression;
severe migraine;
heat;
unquenchable, pronounced thirst;
motor and nervous excitement;
increased vomiting and painful nausea;
diarrhea, occurring with variable constipation;
cyanosis (cyanosis) of the mucous tissue and skin.

After 4-5 days, the victim’s liver and kidneys begin to fail. The skin turns yellow and severe itching appears. The urine becomes dark brown in color, and soon urination stops completely. A person dies from general blood poisoning with surrogate decay products.

Ethylene glycol poisoning

What and how to help a person

At the first signs of alcohol surrogate poisoning, you should immediately call an ambulance. You cannot hesitate, because in this case, even a minute of inaction can cost the victim his life. Emergency care should be carried out only by the hands of doctors. The only thing you should do while waiting for doctors is:

Loosen tight clothing (unfasten buttons, belt). It is necessary that a person can breathe calmly.
The victim must be placed on a hard surface and his head turned to the side. Otherwise, if he vomits, he may choke on the vomit. By the way, it is better to collect the vomit in a jar; it may be needed for further tests.
The patient's legs should be elevated so that they are above the level of the head.
If the victim has severe chills, wrap him in a warm blanket.
If the respiratory process stops, artificial respiration should be performed.

What is the treatment

Treatment of intoxication with surrogate alcohol is, in principle, no different from bringing a person out of an alcoholic coma and further treating him. Doctors carry out the following resuscitation measures:

Rinsing and cleansing the stomach using a tube.
Injection of sodium sulfate into the victim’s body to completely cleanse the gastrointestinal tract.
Artificial pulmonary ventilation (ALV).
Injection of an antidote, in this case ethanol is used.
Taking a course of medications to restore lost functions and reflexes.

Vitamins, Prednisolone, Atropine and ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) are introduced into the course of drug treatment. This drug effectively restores impaired metabolism. This remedy is a universal source of energy that helps restore the body weakened by severe poisoning.

What is an alcohol substitute? How does it differ from regular alcohol and what are the consequences of poisoning with this substance? Not many ordinary people know the answers to these questions. Although it is better to be aware of such things.

What is a surrogate

These are liquids that are close in chemical composition to alcohol, but which absolutely cannot be used instead of alcohol. However, not everyone adheres to this rule. Moreover, the domestic market is teeming with low-quality products, that is, surrogates. The most annoying thing is that the fake can be found not only in a dubious liquor store, but also on the shelves of huge supermarkets.

By the way, statistics say that in 98 out of 100 cases, poisoning with surrogate alcohol did not occur by mistake, it was deliberately used to achieve intoxication. This means that people suffering from alcoholism most often suffer from such poisoning.

Types of surrogate

Nowadays there is a lot of “wrong” alcohol, but it can be divided into two main groups.

Ethanol based. This includes technical alcohol, lotions and even medications. These are all alcohol containing household products. They may contain substances that lead not only to poisoning, but also to death.
No ethanol. They are also called false surrogates. But their use leads to a state similar to intoxication. These include dichlorvos, gasoline, amyl, butyl and methyl alcohols.

This list can be supplemented with colognes, disinfectants, alcohol tinctures from the pharmacy and moonshine. All this also applies to alcohol substitutes. However, you need to understand that the use of these substances is dangerous to life and health.

Consequences of using surrogates

They can be very different, but never positive. Naturally, alcoholics suffer most often. In second place are teenagers. They are susceptible to poisoning from alcohol substitutes because they are not sold high-quality alcohol from the counter of a normal store.

But healthy adults are less likely to end up in a hospital bed because of a surrogate, since it is almost impossible to run into counterfeit alcohol in a store that has the appropriate license. Although there are such precedents. You can also receive low-quality alcohol as a gift.

Oddly enough, it is the surrogate of alcohol that is the leader among other causes of poisoning. Moreover, it very often leads to death. There is evidence that nine out of ten victims die before being hospitalized. In addition to death, there may be other consequences, one of the most common being blindness. Such poisonings are treated by toxicologists and narcologists.

What is ethyl alcohol

This is a liquid that is colorless, that is, it is completely transparent, has a specific odor and a burning taste. This component is included in any type of alcoholic beverage. So what is alcohol made from? It all depends on what it is intended for. After all, it is used not only as a base for alcoholic drinks. That is why there are several types of ethyl alcohol.

Types of ethanol

Important: in addition to alcohol, water and, most often, various aromatic additives are added to alcoholic drinks.

Ethanol production

So what is alcohol made from? There are several ways to make this liquid. Non-food ethyl alcohol is produced from various raw materials. For example, manure, coal, oil or any other element of technical origin. These components are prepared and transported to the distillery.

There the raw materials are processed in a certain way, they undergo technical alcoholization. Then it is poured into containers and sent to industrial enterprises. Some distilleries conduct illegal activities and send part of this product to produce counterfeit alcohol.

Production of alcoholic beverages

Drinking alcohol is made a little differently. Completely different components are used here. Cereals, potatoes, sugar beets, sugar cane and other natural elements are used to make it. These raw materials are carefully processed. In the next step, yeast is added and the fermentation process begins. The result is alcohol highest quality. Now it can be sent to Alcohol purification takes place directly where alcoholic beverages will be produced.

Note: most often inexpensive raw materials are used for the production of alcohol, since it requires careful processing and several degrees of purification; the production process is greatly extended.

What is drinking alcohol?

There are many varieties of it, it all depends on what kind of alcohol will be produced from it. For its production, cereals, grapes, fruits, berries, sugar cane, agave and many other raw materials can be used.

For example, whiskey production requires grain crops such as barley or corn. To produce cognac, brandy or armagnac you will need grape alcohol. In no case may industrial alcohol be present in these drinks. Otherwise you will end up with a surrogate of alcohol.

The production process for fruit spirits has several differences. For example, berries are most often soaked in ordinary drinking ethyl alcohol and a unique flavored product is obtained. Apple alcohol is used to produce Calvados.

It is believed that sugar cane is used to produce rum, but this is not entirely true. Since this product is used to make sugar directly. After this, a waste material is obtained - black molasses. This is what rum is made from.

Blue agave is used to make tequila, and herbal-flavored alcohol is used to make absinthe.

How to drink drinking alcohol

To avoid severe intoxication, you should never mix alcohol-containing products of different origins. That is, you shouldn’t switch from vodka to cognac and then add tequila. Even taking into account the fact that their alcohol level is the same, the body is unlikely to cope with such diversity. And risk severe hangover increases significantly. In addition, in order to protect yourself from substitute alcohol, you should buy alcohol only in large supermarkets or specialized stores with a good reputation. Drinks should not contain questionable ingredients. Moreover, good alcohol must have a certificate confirming compliance with GOST.

Important: high-quality alcohol cannot be cheap.

The right cognac

At the moment, the problem of low-quality alcohol is more relevant than ever. On TV screens almost every week they talk about mass poisonings with surrogate. It is unlikely that the authorities will cope with this problem in the near future. To avoid getting into an unpleasant situation, it is better to find out in advance how to distinguish cognac from a fake. There are several points that you definitely need to pay attention to.

Drink consistency

Good cognac is always thick and oily. In order to check this, you need to turn the container upside down. If “tears” slide down the bottom and walls, it means the product is of high quality. Another good sign is one large drop falling from the bottom.

It happens that the bottle is filled to the brim with a drink. Then, of course, the above method is not suitable. In this situation, you need to pay attention to the bubbles that rise when turning over. In good cognac, large bubbles will rise first, and only then small ones. This indicates that the drink has the desired consistency.

High-quality alcohol should not contain any impurities or sediments. That is, it must be perfectly transparent. Color can vary from amber to dark brown. The older the cognac, the darker it will be.

The color also depends on the age of the barrels in which it was aged and the amount of caramel color. But it is worth noting once again that regardless of the color, the drink must be transparent. If there is even a hint of cloudiness and sediment, you should not buy cognac.

Label quality

First of all, pay attention to how it is glued. If the alcohol is made using a homemade method, then most likely the label on the bottle will not adhere well and look asymmetrical. If the drink is expensive and not counterfeit, then its sticker will most likely be embossed, similar to a banknote.

All information must be indicated on the bottle: manufacturer, bottling date, expiration date, composition, and so on. If the quality of the label paper does not inspire confidence or the print is unclear, then it is better to leave this drink in the store.

True label specialists distinguish the original from the counterfeit, but this requires certain equipment. One more important point is a tax stamp. Its presence is mandatory.

Price for quality alcohol

A good quality drink is expensive. If somewhere they offer cheap cognac, then it is either fake or of poor quality. The high price of this alcoholic drink is quite justified, since the production process is quite complex and costly. Not a single cognac factory will operate at a loss.

Beware if they offer to buy a drink of the Courvoisier or Camus level for 30-40 percent cheaper. This is an obvious fake. It is unlikely that it will be possible to distinguish a fake from the original externally. Since this is a high-level counterfeit. And it’s most likely impossible to get poisoned by it either. But the pleasure is no longer the same.

The only way to insure yourself against scammers in this case is not to buy such a product in suspicious places. Only at licensed locations. And you need to require a certificate for

In response to the question “what is surrogate alcohol,” it is worth conveying to the reader the information that surrogate alcoholic beverages are considered to be those that were produced in an artisanal way in violation of the recipe or those that have expired their shelf life/sales. Such alcohol is so toxic to the human body that in ICD 10 (the international classification of diseases) such conditions have their own code. In particular, it is poisoning of this type that is indicated by coding in the range T51.1-T52.9. Moreover, according to ICD-10, each component that is the main one is classified with certain codes active substance in a surrogate drink.

All low-quality (surrogate) alcoholic drinks can be divided into two main groups:

Alcohol containing ethyl alcohol and its derivatives. These include drinks based on butyl alcohol (lethality within an hour when taking 30 ml), sulfite and hydrolytic alcohol, technical alcohol or denatured alcohol. Also included in this category are all lotions/colognes/varnishes and stains. In the latter case (when using stain), the patient’s skin and mucous membranes become blue.
False surrogate. This is the most dangerous category of low-quality alcoholic beverages for human life. To reduce the cost of alcohol production, methyl alcohol or ethylene glycol is used here instead of ethanol. Both lead to paralysis or death of a person.

Clinical picture of poisoning with alcohol surrogates

It is worth understanding that in case of poisoning with alcohol surrogates, the symptoms may have a different picture depending on the original alcohol included in the drink. Therefore, let's look at everything in detail.

Symptoms of poisoning from ethylene glycol drinks

The consumption of such alcohol affects the human kidneys and liver. If medical care is not provided in a timely manner, failure of these organs occurs. In particularly serious cases, the patient’s central nervous system suffers. But it is worth knowing that ethylene glycol poisoning can divide symptoms into periods:

Signs of ethyl alcohol poisoning and first aid

Early period. It is characterized by standard signs of human intoxication, but at the same time lasts 12 hours while maintaining the image of an intoxicated person. The patient's state of health remains normal.
Damage to the central nervous system. After a marked period of 12 hours, the poisoned person shows signs of damage to the central nervous system. Blueness of the skin and mucous membranes is noted. Nausea and gag reflexes occur. Diarrhea is present. Against this background, the patient experiences an increase in body temperature and a significant dilation of the pupils. Problems with the respiratory center begin (shortness of breath, cardiac dysfunction). In the worst case, the patient loses consciousness followed by convulsions.
Damage to the liver and kidneys. This period takes 2-5 weeks from taking the first dose of the surrogate drink. All the symptoms of kidney and liver failure become evident. There is a lack or decrease in diuresis, yellowing of the skin, and severe itching.

Symptoms of methyl alcohol poisoning

These methanol-containing drinks affect the body, affecting the kidneys and central nervous system. In particular, the psyche and vision suffer. The lethal dose of methanol for a healthy person is only 50-70 ml. It is worth knowing that alcohol substitutes with methyl alcohol are very quickly absorbed into the blood from the stomach and small intestine.

Signs of methanol poisoning are:

Dyspeptic disorders (nausea, gag reflex, diarrhea);
Visual disturbances (black flickering goosebumps before the eyes, periodic blindness or double vision);
Lack of response to light stimuli and dilated pupils;
Cramping abdominal pain, body and muscle aches that appear 1-2 days after taking a dose of methanol;
Temperature rises to 38 degrees;
Drop in blood pressure;
Dryness and itching of the skin;
Malfunction of the heart muscle;
Periodic attacks of excitement, followed by attacks of apathy.

If the patient is not helped in time, then as symptoms increase, the patient may fall into a coma with subsequent paralysis of the arms and legs.

Important: in case of poisoning with ethylene glycol or methyl alcohol, the prognosis for a person is less favorable than in case of poisoning with surrogates from the first group above.

Clinical picture of poisoning with surrogates from the first group (ethyl alcohol)

In this case, the primary signs of alcohol poisoning will be the standard symptoms of intoxication. Then, in the future, the patient will develop the following symptoms:

Strong excitement, both motor and emotional;
Hyperemia of the facial skin;
Increased sweating and salivation;
Falling into euphoria.

Later, a number of such signs develop:

Types of alcohol poisoning and first aid

Increased urination;
Pallor of the skin;
Dry mouth;
Pupil dilation;
Decreased coordination of movements;
Incoherent consciousness.

First aid for poisoning with surrogates

It is worth knowing that if you suspect poisoning with surrogates or obvious poisoning with surrogate alcohol, you should immediately call an ambulance. Even if outwardly the person is in a more or less normal state and conscious. The toxic effects of surrogates are fleeting and the picture can change literally within a few tens of minutes (depending on the dose taken). While the person is conscious, a number of measures should be taken to prevent severe alcohol poisoning. Namely, first aid looks like this:

Clear the stomach of toxins by inducing vomiting. Drink water or manganese pink solution and you need to vomit until the vomit takes the form of clean water.
Provoke loosening of stool. To do this, drink a saline solution. For 1 liter of water, a teaspoon of salt.

If the patient has lost consciousness, then the following must be done before the doctors arrive:

Free the chest and throat from constricting clothing.
Provide a flow of fresh air into the room.
Place the patient on his side to avoid choking on vomit.
Clean the mouth from vomit, if any.
Perform artificial respiration when it stops.
Try to revive the patient using ammonia or rubbing the ears.

Important: if the patient is conscious and there is a suspicion of methanol poisoning, then it is worth knowing that ethanol in this case is an excellent antidote. That is, someone who has been poisoned with methyl alcohol should be given a glass of good vodka. It neutralizes methyl toxins. The same should be done for yourself if you are poisoned.

What applies to surrogates?

Surrogates are liquids containing alcohol, but not intended for ingestion to obtain euphoria. They can be used in technical and medical purposes. Surrogates can be true (contain ethanol) or false (contain other alcohols). These include:

varnish;
medicines used for heart diseases (hawthorn tincture);
technical alcohol;
moonshine;
antifreeze;
brake fluid;
glass cleaning products;
lotions and colognes;
stain;
“scorched” vodka;
White Spirit;
methyl and butyl alcohols;
ethylene glycol.

Homemade drinks

Many women and men use homemade alcohol solutions. These include moonshine liquid. It is obtained using a special apparatus by distilling mash. This process produces many volatile compounds, including methyl alcohol. If distillation is improper (cleaning the solution from impurities), it is possible that toxic substances. Alcoholic drinks home production are in great demand in rural areas. Such people often experience poisoning with alcohol substitutes.

Medicines containing alcohol

In order to achieve a state of intoxication, alcoholics can use alcohol-based medications. Most in demand:

hawthorn tincture;
valerian tincture;
motherwort tincture.

Hawthorn tincture can be purchased at any pharmacy. affordable price. This medicine contains alcohol and fruits and is used for diseases of the heart and nervous system. Hawthorn improves blood flow and has a calming effect. When consumed in high doses, heart function is disrupted and blood pressure drops. People who use this medicine often develop heart failure.

How to determine

Surrogates can be distinguished from alcoholic products intended for mass consumption by smell, color and method of application. All household products (solvents, industrial alcohol) should not be ingested.

Many surrogates contain dyes and are sold in specialized stores.

Simple alcoholic products sold in grocery stores and alcohol supermarkets.

Toxic effects on the body

The severity of poisoning with alcohol surrogates depends on the composition of the solution, the rate of administration and its volume. Alcohol breakdown products can quickly spread throughout the body and be excreted through the kidneys, lungs, skin and intestines. Ethanol is processed in the liver, resulting in the formation of water and carbon dioxide.

When toxic substances from alcohol enter the bloodstream, the following are affected:

Gastrointestinal organs (stomach, intestines, liver, pancreas, gall bladder);
heart;
brain;
lungs;
kidneys;
organs of vision;
nerves;
blood vessels.

Poisoning with alcohol surrogates causes necrosis of hepatocytes (liver cells), death of neurons, hemolysis (destruction of blood cells), disruption of water and mineral metabolism and has a negative effect on the gonads. The toxic effect of methanol will be weaker if a person has previously consumed ethyl alcohol. This is due to the fact that ethanol is a specific antidote to methanol. The toxic effect of toxic substances largely depends on absorption. Most quickly enter the bloodstream strong alcohol(alcohol).

Dangerous doses of alcohol

The liver of a healthy person weighing about 80 kg processes only 8 ml of alcohol in 1 hour. Lethal dose is the use of 100 ml of 96% ethyl alcohol. Coma develops when the concentration of ethanol in the blood is 3 g/l. Methanol is more dangerous. Lethal outcome is possible when consuming 100 ml of the substance, and acute poisoning is observed at 7-8 ml. The toxic dose of ethylene glycol is 50 ml.

You can be poisoned not only by surrogates, but also by regular alcohol. Vodka poisoning leads to serious consequences.

Causes of intoxication

The cause of severe poisoning and death of a person can be a single use of surrogates in large dosages or their regular use for many years. Predisposing factors are:

antisocial lifestyle;
bad Company;
alcohol addiction;
burdened heredity;
addiction;
lack of permanent residence;
difficult family incidents.

Ethanol is found in alcohol tinctures for medical purposes, hydrolysis and sulfite alcohols, colognes, denatured alcohol, glue, dental elixirs, lotions and polishes. Their intentional use is possible in case of unavailability of simple alcohol (during holidays, in the absence of money).

The best alcoholic beverages are those made from “Lux”, “Extra” or “Alpha” alcohol.

Methanol

The most dangerous surrogate is methanol (wood alcohol). It is a colorless liquid that is a monohydric alcohol. It mixes well with water and organic solvents. The source of methanol is anti-freezing fluids for car operation.

Amyl alcohol

Poisoning can occur when consuming solvents. This is a limiting monohydric alcohol, which is obtained as a result of the sublimation of fusel oils.

Ethylene glycol

Ethylene glycol is a flammable substance widely used in industry. The danger to humans is the ingestion of antifreeze, brake fluid, coolants, cooling solutions, cleaning detergents and perfumes. The cause of poisoning is the ingestion of oxalic acid, which causes acidosis (a shift in the reaction to the acidic side) and the formation of kidney stones.

Symptoms of poisoning with alcohol substitutes

Signs of poisoning with alcohol surrogates are:

Sensory disorders in the form of decreased attention and memory.
Impaired consciousness (stupor, stupor) up to coma. Observed in severe poisoning.
Suppression of reflexes.
Movement disorders.
The presence of an alcohol odor from a person.
Decreased body temperature.
Dyspeptic disorders in the form of pain in the abdomen or right hypochondrium, vomiting, nausea and diarrhea. These symptoms can appear quickly. The occurrence of pain is associated with the direct damaging effect of toxic breakdown products of alcohols on the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines. Vomiting is caused by brain damage and stimulation of the vomiting center.
Neurological symptoms (euphoria, headache, dizziness, impaired perception in the form of delirium and hallucinations, incoordination of movements, agitation, euphoria, slurred speech).
Signs of damage to the cardiovascular system (redness of the face, pallor of other parts of the body, tachycardia, drop in pressure). The cause of tachycardia is fluid loss. In severe cases, blueness of the mucous membranes and increased blood pressure are observed.
Autonomic disorders (increased salivation, sweating).
Visual disorders (decreased vision up to complete blindness, the presence of fog and spots before the eyes, double vision).
Respiratory symptoms (shortness of breath, rapid and noisy breathing). The causes may be damage to the respiratory center, reflux of vomit into the respiratory tract and pulmonary edema.
Urinary dysfunction. At lung poisoning and moderate severity, an increase in diuresis is observed. In severe cases, oliguria or anuria (lack of urine) occurs.
Cramps. Characteristic of severe poisoning.
Yellowness of the sclera and skin. A sign of toxic liver damage.

Severe poisoning with alcohol surrogates is accompanied by coma. It can be superficial and deep. In the first case, loss of consciousness, decreased pain sensitivity, uncontrolled movements of the eyeballs, different pupil sizes, defensive reactions to irritants, shortness of breath and rapid heartbeat are observed. Deep coma due to poisoning with alcohol surrogates is characterized by a complete loss of pain sensitivity, absence of tendon reflexes, muscle hypotension, rare and shallow breathing, hypotension and tachycardia.

First aid

In case of poisoning by surrogates, emergency assistance must be provided. It includes:

Ensuring air access and airway patency. If necessary, a triple Safar maneuver is performed (throwing back the head, opening the mouth with the hand and extending the jaw). If your tongue gets stuck, you need to take it out and suck out the mucus using a bulb.
Give the victim the correct body position. The person is placed on his side and his tongue is fixed.
Call for help. You should call an ambulance immediately if signs of poisoning appear. A person’s life largely depends on the speed of her arrival.
Resuscitation measures (indirect cardiac massage and artificial respiration) are carried out in case of cardiac and respiratory arrest. For 2 breaths there should be 30 chest compressions.
Bringing a person to consciousness with a solution of ammonia.
Facilitating the passage of vomit. Vomiting is artificially induced only if the person is conscious.
Gastric lavage. This is carried out until clean wash water is obtained.
Warming a person.
Use of sorbents (Polysorb, activated carbon).

Inpatient therapy

In a hospital setting, infusion therapy and symptomatic correction are carried out. If necessary, the patient is transferred to an IVL (assisted pulmonary ventilation) or mechanical ventilation (artificial pulmonary ventilation) device. Hemodialysis (blood purification) is often required. Antiemetics, hepatoprotectors, antidotes and saline solutions are used. In case of poisoning with ethanol-based surrogates, Metadoxil and B vitamins (pyridoxine, thiamine) are used. In case of methanol poisoning, the administration of ethyl alcohol and 4-methylpyrazole is indicated.

Short description

Acute poisoning with alcohol surrogates is associated with the intake of ethyl alcohol containing impurities of various substances prepared on the basis of ethanol or other monohydric or polyhydric alcohols.

Code according to the international classification of diseases ICD-10:

T51 Toxic effects of alcohol

Alcohol surrogates prepared on the basis of ethyl alcohol containing various impurities. The clinical picture, course and treatment are similar to those for alcohol intoxication (see Acute alcohol poisoning) Hydrolytic and sulfite alcohols are obtained from wood by hydrolysis; more toxic than ethyl alcohol Denatured alcohol - technical ethyl alcohol with an admixture of methyl alcohol, aldehyde, etc.; more toxic than ethyl alcohol Colognes and lotions contain up to 60% ethyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, acetaldehyde, essential oils, etc. Polish (technical ethyl alcohol with acetone, butyl and amyl alcohols) Nigrosin (alcohol wood stain containing ethyl alcohol and dyes) . When taken orally - alcohol intoxication; intense staining of the skin and mucous membranes in a blue color, which persists for 3–4 months. Differential diagnosis - methemoglobinemia.
Alcohol surrogates that do not contain ethyl alcohol and are other monohydric or polyhydric alcohols (false surrogates) Methyl alcohol (methanol, wood alcohol). The lethal dose when taken orally is about 100 ml (without prior intake of ethanol). Toxic concentration in blood is 300 mg/l, lethal - more than 800 mg/l Ethylene glycol is classified as dihydroxy higher alcohols; Part of antifreeze and brake fluid. The lethal dose when taken orally is 100 ml.

Causes

Pathogenesis Methanol is quickly absorbed in the stomach and small intestine, metabolized mainly in the liver by alcohol dehydrogenase with the formation of formaldehyde and formic acid. Oxidation of methanol occurs much more slowly than ethyl alcohol. Methanol and its metabolites are excreted by the kidneys, and part (15%) - unchanged through the lungs. Toxic effect - selective psychotropic (narcotic), neurotoxic (optic nerve dystrophy and retinal damage), nephrotoxic, metabolic (severe metabolic acidosis) Ethylene glycol Rapidly absorbed in the stomach and intestines, excreted unchanged by the kidneys (20–30%); about 60% is oxidized in the liver under the influence of alcohol dehydrogenase with the formation of glycolaldehyde, glyoxal, oxaloacetic acid. Products of biotransformation of ethylene glycol penetrate into the cells of the liver and kidneys, sharply increasing the osmotic pressure of the intracellular fluid, which is accompanied by the development of hydropic (balloon) degeneration. Toxic effect - balloon degeneration of hepatocytes and nephrothelium of the renal tubules, leading to acute hepatic renal failure; in severe cases, damage to the cells of the central nervous system is possible with the development of cerebral edema; severe metabolic acidosis.

Symptoms (signs)

Clinical picture
Methanol poisoning Intoxication is mild; nausea, vomiting; sometimes - flashing of flies before the eyes. After 1–2 days, symptoms of intoxication increase - thirst, vomiting, abdominal pain, headache, dizziness, pain in the calf muscles, diplopia, blindness. The skin and mucous membranes are dry, hyperemic, with a cyanotic tint; the tongue is covered with a gray coating, the pupils are dilated with a weakened reaction to light. Possible psychomotor agitation, convulsions, hypertonicity of the muscles of the extremities, stiff neck, coma Tachycardia followed by a slowdown and disturbance of the heart rhythm. Blood pressure is increased, then falls.

Ethylene glycol Iridocyclitis (if it gets into the eyes) At first, mild intoxication with good health. After 6–8 hours - pain in the abdomen, lower back; severe thirst, headache, vomiting, diarrhea Dry, hyperemic skin; mucous membranes with a cyanotic tint. In case of moderate poisoning - psychomotor agitation; dilated pupils; increased body temperature; dyspnea; tachycardia In severe poisoning - loss of consciousness; stiff neck; clonicotonic seizures; breathing is deep, noisy; acute heart failure, pulmonary edema; for 2–5 days - anuria, toxic hepatopathy and nephropathy up to acute renal or acute hepatic-renal failure.

Diagnostics

EEG research methods Gas-liquid chromatography.
Differential diagnosis is carried out with acute alcohol poisoning.

Treatment

TREATMENT
Management tactics (see also Poisoning, general provisions) Gastric lavage through a tube Specific (antidote) therapy Infusion therapy, forced diuresis with plasma alkalization Early hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis Lumbar puncture (for cerebral edema) In case of visual impairment due to methanol intake - supraorbital administration of atropine , hydrocortisone If ethylene glycol gets into the eyes, rinse.
Specific (antidote) therapy For poisoning with methanol and ethylene glycol - ethyl alcohol 100 ml 30% solution orally, then every 3 hours 50 ml or 5% solution ethyl alcohol IV drip 1-2 g/kg/day, maintaining the required concentration of ethanol in the blood (100 mg%) In case of poisoning with ethylene glycol - calcium chloride or gluconate (10–20 ml of 10% r – ra) intravenously again (to bind the resulting oxalic acid).
Nonspecific drug therapy (see also Poisoning, general provisions) For acidosis - 4% solution of sodium bicarbonate intravenously up to 1,000–1,500 ml/day For agitation and convulsions - 10 ml of 25% solution of magnesium sulfate intravenously m Prednisolone, thiamine, triphosadenine, ascorbic acid, glucose-procaine mixture (200 ml of 40% glucose solution and 20 ml of 2% procaine solution) intravenously.

The course and prognosis depend on the concentration and amount of the toxic substance, the timeliness and adequacy of the assistance provided. In general, the prognosis is quite serious (especially in case of ethylene glycol poisoning due to the often developing acute renal failure, sometimes there is a need for a donor kidney transplant) In severe cases, methanol poisoning develops rapidly progressive acute cardiovascular failure in combination with central respiratory disorders.

ICD-10 T51 Toxic effects of alcohol

Types of surrogates

true;
false.

Symptoms of poisoning

Symptoms of poisoning by true surrogates

In case of poisoning with true surrogates, intoxication occurs due to toxic impurities. For example, after drinking hydrolytic alcohol, all the same symptoms appear as after drinking high-quality alcohol:

nausea;
vomit;
weakness;
drowsiness;
sudden changes in blood pressure.

bradycardia;
decompensated dysfunction of the myocardium.

Drinking alcohol in the form of cosmetics leads to disruption of the functioning of the digestive tract along with signs of simple alcohol poisoning. This is due to the presence of butyl and methyl alcohols in most cosmetics, which can lead to acute gastritis and even provoke the development of hepatitis. When using stain, a change in the color of the mucous membranes is observed, but this is due to the presence of dyes in the composition.

The main harm of moonshine lies in the danger of fusel oils, which have an extremely destructive effect on the liver and lead to acute liver failure, and in the most advanced cases, even cirrhosis. To provoke severe poisoning by surrogates of this group, you need to drink a relatively small portion of alcoholic liquid.

Symptoms of poisoning by false surrogates

In cases of mild to moderate poisoning, the following are observed:

sharp deterioration of vision followed by its restoration;
dizziness;
nausea.

In the severe stage, very pronounced symptoms of acute alcohol poisoning are present. A person can fall into an alcoholic coma within 2 hours after the first symptoms appear:

drowsiness;
violation of self-control;
sudden changes in blood pressure;
strong thirst;
joint pain.

redness of the skin;
change in color of mucous membranes;
increase in heart rate;
hyperthermia;
disturbance of perception of the surrounding world;
psychomotor disorders;
convulsions.

Oxalic acid leads to acute heart failure, disrupts liver function and provokes acute renal failure, which is the most common cause of death in human poisoning with ethylene glycol.

Treatment

At the first signs of poisoning by surrogates, you must seek qualified help, as the ailment progresses at a very high speed. First aid should always be gastric lavage with warm water.

Further treatment measures directly depend on the cause of poisoning:

Methanol. For treatment, ethanol is used in small doses, which prevents the breakdown of methanol. Atropine and prednisolone are used to restore vision.
Ethylene glycol. A sodium bicarbonate solution is used. It is necessary to adjust the water-electrolyte balance and take diuretics to restore kidney function.
True surrogates. Here, treatment is prescribed depending on which organs and systems of the body are affected. It all depends on the amount of alcohol taken and its type.

Sources

https://alkotraz.ru/zdorove/posledstviya-upotrebleniya/surrogatnyj-alkogol.html
https://opohmele.ru/alkogol-i-zdorove/otravlenie-surrogatam.html
http://gipocrat.ru/boleznid_id35551.phtml
https://ObOtravlenii.ru/alkogolnoe/otravlenie-surrogatami-alkogolya.html